Sadly, we have learned of the passing of Tom Ollerton. Tom was a founder member of the club and served as Secretary. He died in Haydock nursing home on Dec 25th aged 91. Funeral arrangements available at Edwin Ainsworths , Churchbank Street, Darwen. Our deepest sympathies to his family.
Here is a fascinating summary of Tom's motorcycling years copied from Trials Central and submitted by his son, John.
My father, Tom Ollerton, who was a very keen rider in the 1950s and 60s has passed away at the age of 91. Dad was a very active member of Darwen Motorcycle Club in Lancashire, and competed in the Scottish Six Days Trial many times. He worked for many years at Anelays Motorcycles in Blackburn, who were the original concessionaires for Bultaco in the UK. In 1962 Dad became the first man to ride a Bultaco in the Scottish (his was the only Bultaco entered that year). He rode it again in 1963 where, once again it was the only Bultaco entered. In 1964 he was joined by Oriol Bulto, who was most impressed by the modifications that Dad had done to his machine to convert it to a trials machine, as you can see from his letter of June 1964.
By 1965, the Bultaco concession had been moved to Comerfords Ltd and there were eight riders on Bultacos including, of course, Sammy Miller. The rest, as they say, is history.
I am not sure if there are many left who will remember Dad, it is many years since he stopped riding, but I thought I would share a couple of pictures for those that do.
Regards,
John Ollerton
